A top adviser to Gov. Bob McDonnell testified Tuesday he attempted to shut down the now infamous dress saga between Maureen McDonnell and former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams, but was met with a confidential email that only heightened the drama.

"It came from Maureen McDonnell, in December 2009," said McDonnell Counselor and Senior Policy Adviser Jasen Eige. "I told her the optics would have looked bad, in the middle of a recession, if Mr. Williams bought the first lady a $20,000 dress."

Prosecutors entered the email from Mrs. McDonnell into evidence, and displayed the text on two large LCD panels for the jury to view.

"I need to talk to you about Inaugural clothing budget," wrote Mrs. McDonnell. "I need answers and Bob is screaming about the thousands I'm charging up in credit card debt. We are broke, have an unconscionable amount in credit card debt already, and this Inaugural is killing us!! I need answers and I need help, and I need to get this done."

Government prosecutors moved from the subject of the email to the former governor's working relationship with Williams. Eige was asked to describe his thoughts on a proposed Star Scientific product launch in the Executive Mansion, set for late August 2011.

"I didn't think it was an appropriate use of state property," Eige said.

After he expressed his concerns, Eige said the Mansion event was changed to become a working luncheon. During the event, Williams awarded $200,000 in grants to both the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Williams distributed the funds with the understanding that they would be used to study his new dietary supplement, Anatabloc.

Months later, emails produced by prosecutors showed little had happened with Anatabloc, prompting Mrs. McDonnell to ask Eige to move the clinical trial process along faster.

"I didn't think it was an appropriate activity for the governor's office," Eige said. "We can't tell universities what to do."

Earlier Tuesday, the defense said Williams received few benefits through the former First Couple. Defense attorneys asserted the McDonnells arranged special meetings to thank Williams, but had low expectations the meetings would produce results.

Molly Huffstetler, former deputy director of the Virginia Health Reform Initiative, said she was only respecting a request to meet with Williams, and never had any intention of following up with him.

"I was never told by anyone to help Star Scientific," said Molly Huffstetler, former deputy director of the Virginia Health Reform Initiative. "We had just one meeting back in July 2011."

Defense attorneys characterized the access provided by the McDonnells as, "thank you, but no," with "no" pertaining to direct action that could help Williams' company.

The defense also argued the McDonnells needed to thank Williams for a specific resource - the use of his private jet to attend events.

Block also testified she may have said Williams was Mrs. McDonnell's "blind spot," leading defense attorney Heather Martin to suggest the former first lady was "blinded by Jonnie Williams' charms."

"Would you also say [Mrs. McDonnell] would feel frustrated because she felt abandoned?" Martin asked. Block was unsure of how to answer, with U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer quickly sustaining a prosecution objection.

Experts tell NBC12, they weren't surprised by Friday's decision from the Supreme Court that it would hear McDonnell's case. When it's all said and done – one of three things could happen McDonnell could go to prison, walk free or have a new trial right here at the federal courthouse, where this all started.. “I

Several US Supreme Court justices expressed considerable skepticism with the conviction of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell on Wednesday, saying the laws he broke could be considered unconstitutionally vague.

Several US Supreme Court justices expressed considerable skepticism with the conviction of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell on Wednesday, saying the laws he broke could be considered unconstitutionally vague.

Former First Lady Maureen McDonnell was prepared to testify that her husband, Gov. Bob McDonnell, was unaware of a lavish New York City shopping spree paid for by former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams, according to documents unsealed in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday.More >

Former First Lady Maureen McDonnell was prepared to testify that her husband, Gov. Bob McDonnell, was unaware of a lavish New York City shopping spree paid for by former Star Scientific CEO Jonnie Williams, according to documents unsealed in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday.More >